Ex-NHL player surrenders on 2004 warrant

MALONE -- A former National Hockey League player is in Franklin County Jail again, charged with violating probation on a conspiracy conviction from nine years ago.

Patrick Cote, 36, of Blairville, Quebec, who played left wing for the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, walked up to the U.S. Port of Entry in Champlain and turned himself in, said Malone Village Police Chief Chris Premo.

"He'd been serving two years in jail in Canada on an assault charge," the chief said. "He had just gotten out of jail over there.

Cote's warrant was issued in 2004. He is reportedly in violation of the terms of his probation, stemming from his arrest in 2002, when he was stopped in Malone for speeding at 3:17 a.m. Thirty pounds of marijuana was found in the car's trunk. Its estimated street value was $125,000.

He pleaded guilty in 2002 to a reduced charge of fourth-degree conspiracy and was sentenced to 6 months in jail and 5 years of probation supervision. Cote reportedly failed to report to his Canadian probation officer a number of times.

-- The Plattsburgh Press-Republican